Making time for change in your home
We can all agree that Autumn is well and truly settled in, and with the clocks changing, rainy days and darker evenings, we will start to spend more time indoors. The shift in seasons brings a perfect opportunity to take a look around your home and make time for changes.
Perhaps you’ve been looking to update your living room, the kids are getting older and no longer use the playroom, or you’ve decided your master bedroom needs a bit of love. Wherever you want to start, this time of year is great for starting a project and creating a space you truly love.
The first step is preparation. In previous posts, https://www.hiltingburyinteriors.co.uk/beccis-blog, we’ve discussed how you can declutter and get organised, and that’s an ideal way to begin repurposing a room, by getting rid of all the things you don’t need or want.
Next, you need to give yourself some time for inspiration. Some people like to visit a few shops, go to an exhibition or drop into a show home. Others might book an appointment with an Interior Designer, or do a few searches in interiors magazines, online or on Pinterest. Whatever sparks your imagination, giving yourself time to get creative and explore new ideas is important in deciding exactly what you want. Often there’s a temptation to start shopping, but the research process is all part of the fun!
Take time out to look for inspiration.
When I meet new clients we will spend some time exploring what a space needs to deliver on a practical level. Maybe it’s a room for relaxation, play, or family, a space to entertain or an office to work from; these are all different and will guide what happens next.
For some, it’s the feeling of a room or perhaps even the whole house that needs to change, and this should be considered as well as the function before you start any work. Perhaps you need a space to feel happy in, somewhere that can help to improve your wellbeing or make better use of a small space to cope better with busy family life. Anything you want to achieve is possible.
Some people will start a room with a single item of furniture or a wallpaper pattern that they’ve seen and fallen in love with, and though we can absolutely work in any elements you are certain of, you need to know how the whole space will feel and how it will be used too. These things should be clear in your mind before we move onto individual pieces or textures.
A great way to start is with a list of words that describe the feeling you want to achieve, and as an Interior Designer, I find these words incredibly useful for imagining what could work best and seeking out options for clients. It may be ‘light and airy, a peaceful sanctuary, somewhere to recharge, read, look at the garden, a place to escape the stress of the day’. Can you just imagine it? When I read these words it immediately conjures images of a beautiful calm area, sunlight and soft colours with comfortable seating and open space. And that’s why these lists are so valuable!
You don’t have to spend a long time on this preparation but I always suggest that people make three lists;
How do I want to feel in this space?
What function does the room have to have, and who will use it?
What colours and styles do I like?
The internet can give endless inspiration for interiors, and it’s great to see what’s possible if you struggle to visualise a space without some guidance. Pinterest and Instagram are two excellent sites to explore and gather some ideas if you simply search a few of the descriptive words from your list. Type in ‘calm interiors’ or ‘family kitchen’ and see where it takes you!
Use online tools to create your own mood board
When it comes to planning a budget for changing a room or part of your home, it’s useful to have a figure in mind for the whole project, rather than for single items. Some items are really worth investing in and there are others where you can compromise and perhaps make savings with options you hadn’t thought of, leaving you with more money to spend on the really important factors.
While deciding your budget it’s also important to think of the foundations of a space. There’s no value in painting your lounge if the chimney leaks, or investing in expensive curtains if the double glazing in the window is blown, causing condensation and mould. It’s so disheartening to create a beautiful space that could be ruined because of structural issues that need fixing. Make sure any issues have been considered and addressed before you work on the interior and it will be worth the work.
It’s exciting to plan a change in your home and there’s a big temptation to jump straight in, but putting in some time for preparation and planning will make a big difference to the end product. Being clear on your vision before you start will mean that even if it’s a long term change you know exactly what you are working towards and won’t make decisions on a whim.
The planning stages are often where advice from an Interior Designer can be valuable to your project, bringing new ideas and inspiration to your plans and helping you see how your home can really achieve it’s potential as a living space.
I hope you feel inspired for your next project! In my next post, I’ll be exploring how you can move on to the next stage of change and put your own stamp on a space and create an environment that really reflects you and your personal style. There are lots of exciting possibilities for us to discover!